Fabric for beds, couches, &amp;c.



G. H. GAIL. FABRIC FOR BEDS, UOUGHES, &c. APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

U. H. GAIL. FABRIC FOR BEDS, COUGHES, (Kw. APPLICATION FILED APR.10,1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES H. GAIL, F KENOSI-IA, WISCONSIN.

FABRIC non BEDS, COUCHES, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Application filed April 10, 1909. Serial No. 489,232.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GA1L,a citizen of the United States, residing at Kcnosha, in the county of Kenosha and State of Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fabric for Beds, Couches, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to wirefabric adapted to serve as a flexible bed-bottom, or wire-mattress, for beds, sofas, couches, etc.; and my primary object is to provide a fabric of the character indicated which is capable of folding, which can be manufactured at moderate cost, and which is adapted to stand great longitudinal stress.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken plan-view of a wire-fabric, or wire-mattress, constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a broken perspective view of the same; Fig. 3, a broken plan-view of a modification of the invention; Fig. 4, a broken perspective view of said modification; Fig. 5, a perspective view of one of the U-shape links employed in said modification; and Fig. 6, a broken plan-view showing a modified form of the link shown in Fig. 5.

In the preferred construction, A represents the fabric comprising longitudinal rows of substantially U-shape links 1 which are directly interlinked with each other; and transverse links 2 connecting said U-shape links. Each U-shape link 1 comprises a baseportion having a transverse web 3 and eyes 4; and arms 5 extending longitudinally of the fabric. In forming the links 1, a piece of wire is bent at points near its center so as to produce the transverse web 3 and the eyes 4. The projecting ends of the wire are bent back upon themselves to form loops 6 at their free ends, and the extremities of the wire members are bent to form hooks 7 which are connected with the webs 3 adjacent to the eyes 4. Thus, each arm 5 comprises two members 8 and 9. In the formation of the fabric, the loops or eyes 6 of one U-shape link are interwoven or interlinked with the eyes 4 of the next U-shape link, so that when the fabric is completed each longitudinal row of U-shape links affords, in effect, two double strands, said double strands being connected by the webs 3 of the U-shape links.

The members 8 and 9 of each arm 5 of each U-shape link 1 lie side by side in the plane of the fabric, the members being given a twist or bend through approximately 90 at the-extremities of the arms, so that the loops 6 will lie in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the fabric. The twist is so effected that the loop 6 will be formed principally beneath the plane of the fabric, and hence will not interfere with the evenness of the upper surface of the fabric. Each transverse link 2 comprises a short piece of wire with closed hook-ends engaged with the eyes 4 of the U-shape links. Thus, it appears that the U-shape links are arranged in longitudinal rows and also in transverse rows, the arms of the U-shape links extending longitudinally of the fabric. It will be observed that the webs 3 serve to space the double strands formed by the arms of each longitudinal row of U-shape links, so that the transverse links 2 are required to connect only alternate strands.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that the fabric A may be folded on 1011- gitudinal lines at the connections between the transverse links 2 and the U-shape links 1. The fabric may be folded on transverse lines to bring one portion of the fabric at right angles to another portion, as is sometimes desirable in folding-bed constructions.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, A represents a fabric which is like the fabric A, except that the eyes 10 at the junctions of the webs 3 and arms 5 are closed eyes, instead of being partially opened, as are the eyes 4 of the fabric A. It may be noted here that the hooks 7 of the fabric A extend obliquely, so that in effect they serve to close the eyes 4. Except in the particular of the eyes 10, the fabric A is like the fabric A, and the parts are similarly numbered. In this construction, however, the positions of the members 8 and 9 are reversed, so that the members 9 lie outside of the members 8, instead of at the inner sides thereof, as in the fabric A. In this construction, the hooks 7 engage directly with the closed eyes 10. y

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the construction is exactly like the constructions shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, except that the eyes 11 are of slightly different forma tion from the eyes 10. That is, the eyes 11 are flattened, as indicated at 12, so that the tensional force exerted along the fabric is exerted through the longitudinal wires in more direct lines.

In each of the constructions, it is obvious that the fabric is adapted to resist great stress along longitudinal lines, along which lines the principal stresses are called into play in this class of fabric. The single transverse wires are fully capable of meeting any transverse strains which may come upon the fabric.

\Vhile each of the constructions herein described provides a fabric of great strength and peculiarly adapted to resist longitudinal stresses, the fabric shown in Fig. 1 is pre ferred for reasons of economy. It can be manufactured by somewhat simpler machinery, and involves the use of somewhat less wire. Each of the constructions herein described enables small-gage wire to be employed in the fabric. At the present time, the wire-fabric employed for folding-beds, soft-beds and folding-couches in the United States amounts to an enormous aggregate; hence, the importance of economy of construction, coupled with a fabric adapted to meet all of the exigencies, will be appreciated.

It may be stated that the fabrics herein shown and described may be manufactured in complete form by the use of suitable machinery. That is, a fabric may be formed completely in a single machine, the fabric issuing from the machine with all of the links properly formed and interlinked with each other.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only. Hence, no undue limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

That I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wire-fabric comprising substantially U-shape links ranged in longitudinal rows, the links of each row being interlinked directly with each other and affording, in effect, two strands, each U-shape link comprising a wire bent to afford a transverse web and longitudinal arms with eyes at the junctions thereof, each arm having the wire thereof bent back upon itself and secured to the base-portion of a link, whereby double strands are afforded.

2. A wire-fabric comprising U-shape links ranged in longitudinal rows, the links of each row being interlinked directly with each other and affording, in effect, two strands, and transverse links connecting said rows of links, each U-shape link comprising a wire bent to afford a transverse web and longitudinal arms with eyes at the junctions thereof, each arm having the wire thereof bent back upon itself and secured to the base-portion of the link, whereby double strands are afforded, said transverse links connecting adjacent eyes of the longitudinal rows of U-shape links.

3. A wire-fabric comprising U-shape links ranged in longitudinal rows, and transverse links connecting said rows of links, each U-shape link comprising a wire bent to afford a transverse web and longitudinal arms with the wire curved at the junction of said web and arms to afford unclosed eyes, each arm having the wire thereof bent back upon itself to form a loop at the extremity of the arm, the extremity of the wire having a hook engaging the web of the link adjacent to said eye, the loops at the extremities of the arms of one link engaging the eyes at the base of the adjacent link.

CHARLES H. GAIL.

In presence of RALPH SCHAEFER, J OHN WILSON. 

